Ever So Slightly

I wake up briefly at about 3am I’d guess, and see Rhys out for the count on the end of the bed, and William and Gabe on the carpet by the door, muttering.

‘You can’t just kidnap someone Gabe. I’m sure it’s illegal, even in this country.’ The voice is amused, a tired laughter raking through it.

I zone out again, and for the longest time I can feel nothing, except a growing pulse in my stomach. Then slowly, I become aware of a strain around my ankles, and my wrists being gathered together.

‘I’m sure tying her up’s not necessary Gabe…anyway, shouldn’t you ask her first?’

‘But where’s the fun in that? Besides, she too whipped to do something like that.’

‘So you’re going to kidnap her?’

‘It’s not kidnap. She’d want to come over anyway.’

‘Then ask her.’

‘Aw Bill, give me a break. You’re always saying that we don’t do anything spontaneous anymore.’

‘There’s a slight difference between spontaneous and criminal.’

‘You want to have some fun?’

‘Sure.’

‘Then think of it like this. You pull an otter out of it’s run or whatever, swing it around above your head and then drop it somewhere different.’

‘Um…why?’

‘’Cause it’s funny to watch it stumble around, dizzy, with no idea where it is.’

‘So you just want to see her dazed and confused? You have a strange sense of humour.’

‘Come on Bill, help me here. Grab her bag will you?’

‘What’s in it for me?’

‘…My level 100 Charmaeleon. I’ll trade it for whatever you like.’

‘You’re such a nerd.’

‘You don’t want it?’

‘Yes! I mean…I do…it’s just - you’re being dumb. You can’t like, steal someone. ’

‘I know you sorta like her Bill - and Mark’s drunk and on the prowl for some action, you know, action, so you’ll get to save her from rape, annd see her again before we go back. No cheeky time though, Mr Beckett - you’re allll mine, yeah?’

‘You drive a hard bargain Mr Saporta.’

‘Ahaha. Come on.’

Both voices have a playful tone to them, as if there’s a smile hiding there - and they sound so far away.

I’m sure, under some sort of booze-blanket, something inside me is panicking, but the cool numbness can’t make sense of the situation, and even as my sense returns to me and I’m laying in the backseat of a rumbling car, all I can think is, if I was going to be kidnapped - then this was the best way it could go.